Certificate of Pastoral Theology

Lecture 12 Signs Following Follow Up Work

Free Will

Salvation is Gods work, not ours; a work that sees the free will of a person embrace the Gospel under the Holy Spirits work. It is grace all the way, by faith, not of any works! All men are responsible for their choices; election is not mentioned at the Great White Throne, Rev 20:10-15, nor by Stephen, Acts 7:50ff, or Paul, Acts 26:29. Mans sin is against truth and love; Matt 12:31, Acts 2:38-40, 16:31, 24:24-25.

Signs and Miracles

Eph 4:3, Col 3:15, 1 Thess 5:13. The greatest miracle is a Holy Spirit transformed life, Matt 7:13-23, 13:323, Lk 8:4-18, Jas 2:14-26. The Great Commissions, Matt 10, Mk 6, Lk 9, and Matt 28:18-20, Mk 16:15-18, Lk 24:44-49. Miracles appear in some places, not in others; it is the Lords work!

Holy Spirit in Acts

1. Antioch preaching only, Iconium preaching and miracles. 2. One success story does not set a precedent; each place was Spirit led. 3. Will not be miracles everywhere. 4. The power of the Word is miraculous in lives thru the Spirit. 5. The Holy Spirit is sovereign. 6. We dont tell the Holy Spirit what to do 7. Do not dictate to God! 8. The message is the concentration.

Signs Following Or Not?

Acts 2:41-47, 10:44-46, 8:7ff, 3539. Note the mixed presentation, with miraculous signs in some places and none in others. There are signs at Cyprus, Acts 13, Lystra, Acts 14, Philippi, Acts 14, Ephesus, Acts16, in Troas and Miletus, Acts 19. However in Thessalonika, Berea, Athens, and Corinth there is great evangelism but no named miracles. Acts 17-18.

Pauls Testimony

Acts 19:11-20 Pauls sweat bands are healing agents with the prayer of his team members; beware of those who pray over handkerchiefs that their sweat has never been near! Note also Paul didnt charge! Acts 20:17-35 Paul sees the addition of signs as a bonus, never the main focus event. The sovereignty of the Holy Spirit is the key concept here. We seek Gods path, not any drama He doesnt need.

Unlimited Atonement

1. The atonement is unlimited; it covers the sins of all mankind. Rom 5:6, 2 Cor 5:14-15, 1 Tim 2:6, 4:10, 2 Pet 2:1, 3:9, 1 Jn 1:1-2. 2. Salvation rests only upon faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. Eph 2:1-9 3. At the last Judgment, sins will not be mentioned, for the unbelievers are covered by his work. It is their rejection of Him and their choice of their own works rather than His that condemns them. Like Cain they did it their way and must measure their works against His, and accept they made the wrong choice. Jn 3:3-18, 36, Rev 20:10-15.

Salvation

1. It is Gods gift by grace, thru faith 2. It must be received as a gift, Eph 2:89, Rom 4:4-5. 3. His work must be accepted, Acts 16:30-31, Jn 3:16, 14:6, 1 Cor 15:3-4. 4. We are saved to serve, Eph 2:8-10 5. The alternative message is falsehood, 2 Cor 11:4, Gal 1:6, Col 2:18. The truth is always by grace, thru faith.

Holy Spirits Ministry Today

1. 2. 3. 4.

Restraining evil 2 Thess 2:7 Convicting of sin, Jn 16:8-11 Regenerating, Jn 3:5-16, Titus 3:5 Baptism into union with Jesus, Acts 1:5, 1 Cor 12:13, Gal 3:26-28, Eph 4:5. 5. Indwelling, Rom 8:9, 1 Cor 6:19-20. 6. Sealing, 2 Cor 1:22, Eph 1:13, 4:30 7. Giving spiritual gifts, 1 Cor 12:11ff 8. Filling daily, Eph 5:18 9. Producing Christs character within, Rom 8:24, Gal 4:19, 5:22-23 10. Bringing glory to Jesus, Jn 7:39, 16:14.